Looking for free Word Processor with at least some formatting features

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the search for a reliable free word processor with formatting features, prompted by frustrations with OpenOffice Writer's instability. Users recommend LibreOffice, a fork of OpenOffice created in 2010, which boasts around 200 million active users and is known for its stability. Google Docs is also suggested for its cloud capabilities, although concerns about data security and file sharing are raised. Alternatives like Jarte and TextMaker are mentioned as viable options for users seeking different interfaces.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of word processing software features such as font styling, bullet points, and table creation.
  • Familiarity with cloud-based applications and their advantages.
  • Basic knowledge of open-source software and its development history.
  • Awareness of data security concerns related to online document storage.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the features and benefits of LibreOffice 7.4 for word processing tasks.
  • Research Google Docs' offline capabilities and security settings to mitigate risks.
  • Investigate Jarte Word Processor and its comparison to Microsoft Word.
  • Learn about the functionalities of TextMaker and FreeOffice as alternatives to traditional word processors.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for individuals seeking reliable word processing solutions, including students, professionals, and anyone frustrated with traditional software like OpenOffice and Microsoft Word.

DaveC426913
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TL;DR
My benchmark is Word and Open Office Writer. Neither are suitable.
I've had it with Open Office Writer. Lost too many documents to spontaneous exploding. Even reflex Ctrl-S'ing every few minutes is too risky. I somehow managed to Ctrl-X a large table just before it exploded and I lost the entire thing.

I'll give up some of the more sophisticated features. I want to set fonts/styles, use bullets, make tables and colour rows.

Suggestions?

I guess Google docs is an option, isn't it?
 
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Open Office Writer got left behind when the project forked in 2010 to create LibreOffice, which is very widely used, on MS Windows, and bundled with current Linux systems. Estimated around 200 million active users.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. - Yogi Berra.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice
There is a link on the wiki page.
 
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Baluncore said:
Open Office Writer got left behind when the project forked in 2010 to create LibreOffice, which is very widely used, on MS Windows, and bundled with current Linux systems. Estimated around 200 million active users.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. - Yogi Berra.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibreOffice
There is a link on the wiki page.
I used Libre Office for a while a few years back. I can no longer recall why I turned my back on it.
 
I have been using LibreOffice for 10(?) years now. No problems with losing / exploding / crashing / failing documents. I only use their Writer and Calc. I think I used Impress once, successfully.

I hated MS Office. I had to spend a day shutting off all their productivity killing features every time they updated.
 
jrmichler said:
I have been using LibreOffice for 10(?) years now. No problems with losing / exploding / crashing / failing documents.
Sorry, not what I meant to imply. LibreOffice wasn't exploding or anything. I think there was confusion between the two, do to the overlap at the time - and maybe I just chose OpenOffice over LibreOffice.

I will try GoogleDocs for a bit.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org said:
OpenOffice.org is an open-source office productivity software suite. It originated from the proprietary StarOffice, developed by Star Division, which was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 1999. Sun open-sourced the software in July 2000 as a free alternative to Microsoft Office, and released OpenOffice.org version 1.0 on 1 May 2002.

Following Sun’s acquisition by Oracle Corporation, development of OpenOffice.org slowed and eventually ended. In 2011, Oracle donated the project to the Apache Software Foundation, which continues it as Apache OpenOffice, although that project has been largely dormant since 2015. A more actively developed fork, LibreOffice, was created in 2010 by members of the OpenOffice.org community.

Latest development news for Apache OpenOffice:
https://www.openoffice.org/ said:
03 April 2024:
Development Update - April 2024
22 December 2023:
Announcing Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15

If you want to compare releases with LibreOffice:

OOo-major-derivatives11.webp

(source)​

On the same note, I have more bad news for you: your Windows 8.1 is also obsolete. :nb):wink:
 
Greg Bernhardt said:
Why would you not want to go Google docs? The free cloud is the best part.
Yeah I guess so.

The dinosaur in me rankles at the (admittedly archaic) idea that my data is elsewhere...

("What if my Wifi goes down?" "What if there's an EMP attack that takes Google down?" )

1758385922164.webp
 
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Jarte Wordprocessor is about as good as Word and is now free. Maybe not AS MUCH AS WORD by complete duplication and quantity of features, but by my view, better than WordPad. Someway a different interface but learnable.

Other (favorite) option could be TextMaker which comes with SoftMaker Office; or you could use the free, FreeOffice.

edit: The cartoon in #8 says what some of us do and want. Or should I say, many of us?
 
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Greg Bernhardt said:
Why would you not want to go Google docs? The free cloud is the best part.
My main concern about Google docs is to avoid using the file sharing any more than possible. Sharing folders and files onto one's local drive is a substantial security risk. I've heard too many talks by Rebecca Mercuri about those risks. She makes her living in part by being an expert witness for the defense when people's hard drives have been used by the government to claim this, that or the other about them.

It probably is possible to use Google Docs without actually engaging in file sharing--but unless I misremember, Google makes that quite easy and in fact sort of invites one to do it.
 

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